Can't unmount an internal disk that I installed in my tower

Years ago, I added a supplemental internal hard drive (Maxtor) to increase my storage capacity. It continues to work fine. But...
I'd like to be able to do maintenance on it (verify the directory, make any repairs, etc.), and for that, I need to be able to unmount this disk.
Note: there is no eject icon next to the disk's name in my Finder window.
I always get the error message that the volume could not be unmounted, and I've tried to unmount it several ways:
- Used Terminal to try to unmount
- Used Disk Utility to try to verify &/or repair
- Started up with a bootable clone and tried
- Started up with a bootable Disk Warrior CD and tried
- Tried to reformat/erase the disk (couldn't)
I have backed up to this drive, using "erase & copy files" (from a sparse image backup), and that worked, so apparently it didn't need to unmount the disk to do that. But I can't copy my computer over to my laptop (in Target Disk Mode), apparently due to this problem. Sigh.
Disk Utility tells me to be sure all folders, files, etc. are not in use on this disk, and then maybe it will unmount. But I see nothing in use or open.
NOTE: I have Sys 9 installed on that volume. For a while, I thought maybe OS X somehow keeps a file open that's related to OS 9 (like maybe sort of having it "stand by" in case Classic needs to load when I try to open an old file or something). But that doesn't seem to be the case after all, since I've booted from a bootable clone on a different, external drive (meaning my normal boot drive is not loaded), and the problem persists. But wait, maybe the clone I've booted from is somehow activating the OS 9 disk in that way, still. But wait, that can't be it, since I've booted from Disk Warrior CD and the problem persists.
Shouldn't I be able to do maintenance on that additionally installed internal disk? And doesn't it have to unmount for that? But how can I get it to unmount? If there is a directory problem causing this, how can I repair the directory to resolve the unmounting problem, if it won't unmunt to accept the repairs? And why isn't there a way to just erase the disk and start over? I guess it has to be unmounted first, fir ANYthing. But HOW??
Many thanks.
G-4 tower Mac OS X (10.4.7)
450 mHz

Hi, Larry.
You wrote: "I always get the error message that the volume could not be unmounted"This implies that you have either:
a. A file open that is saved on that disk.
b. An application or background process running that was either launched from that disk or is using a file on that disk.
c. A Startup Item or Login Item is either being launched from that disk or using a file on that disk, akin to points (a) and (b). See my "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ.
Try restarting in Safe Mode and after logging in, launch Disk Utility.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

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